DC Capital Striders Runners Visit Rose Physical Therapy Group

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On Saturday, March 4th, approximately 15 DC Capital Striders runners visited Rose Physical Therapy Group for an injury prevention workshop.   The therapists led the runners on a slew of exercises which assessed their level of flexibility, muscle strength and/or weakness, and areas of concern typical for runners.

The therapists showed the attendees multiple ways to increase flexibility, hip and glute strength and protective factors to help stay healthy.  Look for this workshop again in the near future!

DC Capital Striders thanks Rose Physical Therapy for their continued partnership!   They are located at 1705 Desales Street, NW 6th Floor - Washington DC 20036, just a few blocks from Dupont Circle.   

Visit their website here to make an appointment: https://rosept.com/

 

 

DC Capital Striders Members Do YOGA: Source Core Studio, Vienna, VA

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DC Capital Striders members visited a studio in Vienna, Virginia the evening of January 12, 2017. Approximately 16 runners moaned, grunted, and used good breathing techniques as they successfully participated in a 45 minute yoga session provided by fellow DC Capital Striders member Jenn Brown.

Source Core Studio is located at 144 Church Street NW, #102, Vienna, Virginia 22180.  Call them at 703-755-0891 to register for a class.  The studio offers Yoga, Barre, Zumba Dance, Pilates and Circuit Training.  

Jenn Brown schedules "Yummy Yoga" classes where she brings food and sometimes wine as part of the yoga experience.  She describes yoga as "great for flexibility, mental calming, and relaxation".  The studio also schedules Barre classes where she describes Barre as "helping with stabilizer muscles and strengthening hip flexors".  Pilates "has a strong core focus".

DC Capital Striders will be back again!   Some members even won 5 FREE CLASSES on top of the free week anyone can get when they visit the studio for the first time.

 

 

  

DCCS President: Rick Amernick’s Story

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DCCS President: Rick Amernick’s Story

Video Interview by Elizabeth Glover, The Catholic University of America Student

Rick Amernick moved to the D.C. area in 1998.  He quickly developed an appreciation for the beauty of the city and the attractions around the National Mall- a place that captivates the attraction of athletic-minded people in the area.  It was here that the DC Capital Striders was born.

 

One evening in April, 2006 Rick connected with a few people through meetup.com to run along the Mall.  With each passing week, an increasing number of people showed up to run.  Within months of starting this weekly run, Rick’s meet-up had established a sizable group of running friends.

 

From its inception, the Strider’s group has valued volunteer work and charity as a cornerstone of its foundation.  Prior to the establishment of DCCS, Rick spent time volunteering in various capacities at local races.  He realized that the running friends he met were like minded in this regard; they too wanted to use running, health and volunteering efforts as a way to give back to the community. 

 

Rick signed up for his first marathon, the 2007 National Marathon, at the suggestion of these running friends.  Like many runners taking on the marathon for the first time, he suffered a set back with an over-use injury.  Eight weeks following his injury, he returned to running and was shocked at the loss of fitness in such a short period of time.  This was certainly a frustrating experience that many runners who have dealt with an injury can relate to.  Rick used his involvement in the group to keep positive and involved through his recovery, and he used this momentum to move on to even longer distance running.

 

Rick remembers his first 50 mile run.  It was a very challenging experience for him, as could only be expected for that distance.  Within an hour of completion of this gigantic feat, feeling the height of this remarkable accomplishment, he immediately looked forward to taking on another ultra-distance race.  Rick felt a true connection to a challenge at this level- one that goes above and beyond the distance.  It was an enlightenment of the soul. 

 

For Rick, running isn’t just about feeling good; it is truly family for him, and for good reason.  Runners have become Rick’s closest friends… brothers and sisters with whom he shares a deep passion and commitment to the sport… people who he genuinelysees himself running with for many years into the future.

 

You can view Rick’s full interview and running story here. 

DC Capital Striders Runners visit 405 Yoga Studio!

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The DC Capital Striders have partnered with 405 Yoga studio to offer free yoga workouts to DCCS runners. On select Saturdays throughout the summer, DCCS will host fun runs departing from the studio in NoMA. Runners are encouraged to extend their workout with a free yoga session following the run. Check out photos from last Saturday's run! The next session date will be posted shortly on the DCCS meetup. 

"Runners need yoga" says Merideth VanSant, managing teammate at 405 YOGA. "Our Power Flow class is an awesome compliment to an athlete's Saturday morning run, it squashes stress, eases pain, and some research points to improved running times through an increase in endurance and range of motion. Our 405 Power Flows keep the heart pumping, and body stretching and strengthening. We absolutely love hosting yoga & run combo workouts with the DC Capital Striders, and the studio welcomes new and seasoned DCCS yogis to our community, always."

Visit 405 Yoga at 1000 Florida Avenue NE and at www.405yoga.com

DCCS Trash Running - Fletcher's Boathouse/Cove

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On Saturday morning, June 4, 2016; several DCCS runners/trash runners joined the Potomac Conservancy on National Trails Day for a clean-up on the shores of the Potomac River from Fletcher's Boathouse.   Joining approximately 35 other volunteers, we collected approximately 35 large bags of trash.   

One attendee said, "I can't believe how much trash there is alongside the river.  It's disgusting and makes me want to do this more".   Another attendee said, "This is fun.  I get to run before and also clean up the trails; what a great morning!"

Join DCCS Trash Running for another clean up soon!  To learn more, please visit our facebook page and meetup site.

DCCS partners with RuninOUT and Team River Run for EU Embassy Run 2016!

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On Saturday, May 14, 2016, DCCS runners in partnership with RuninOUT and Team River Runner ventured off for a trek around Europe (by way of DC).   Last year's event raised $1000 for Nepal Earthquake Relief and this year $2000 for Team River Runner.

Team River Runner provides wounded service members, combat/injured veterans, and their family members with the opportunity to find health, healing, and new challenges through kayaking (whitewater and flatwater) and other paddle sports.

“The funds raised can be used to buy an outfitted adaptive kayak for a veteran with a spinal cord injury, as well as adaptive paddling equipment, personal flotation device and food and gas for day trip on the river,” said Nazanin Yousefnejad, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator.

“It was a wonderful way to see the European Embassies, run with wonderful people and be a part of a terrific Veteran non-profit organization,” said Sofi Loomis. “Felt like a VIP which never happens.”

For more information on this event, visit: http://runindc.com/2016-eu-embassy-run-team-river-runner-fundraiser/

 

 

DCCS presents Kissing the Rock: Hardrock 100 Movie Trailer at Road Runner Sports

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Thursday, April 14, 2016

Approximately 50 DCCS friends attended Kissing the Rock - The Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run film screening at Roadrunner Sports on Thursday evening, April 28. The short film follows a few runners on their grueling journey in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. The race starts and finishes in Silverton, CO, a former mining town, and features 67,984’ of elevation change at an average elevation of over 11,000 feet.

At the pre-screening run, a HOKA representative brought one of the newest models, Clayton, for runners to try. Many jumped on the opportunity to take this light and fast shoe out for a spin on the W&OD trail. The misty condition might have steered the usual trail-users away, but definitely not the deer!

Shortly after 7 p.m., runners returned to a bustling store with a lot more people and much less room to roam. After a short introduction by Club President and organizer Rick Amernick, the “main course”, Kissing the Rock, was served.  Even though the film was only 22 minutes long, it had filled the audience with awe of both the tenacity of the human spirit and the raw beautiful of nature. A panel of Hardrock finishers were introduced and shared some of their high- and low- experience.

Special thanks to our host Roadrunner Sports- Falls Church for providing us the venue and the friendly staff who stayed late to serve us!!!

Written by: Phyllis Neriah Tsang

DCCS Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary!

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Thank you to the more than 100 people who came out to help DCCS celebrate our ten years in existence! A great time was had by all at the happy hour, held on April 14 at Hard Times in Arlington. We have done some really amazing things over the years and certainly hope to continue as the years progress. Here’s to another ten! 

DCCS at Bull Run Run 50 and The North Face Endurance Challenge

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While the runners were greeted with rain, sleet, hail, snow, and sunshine, let's not forget that the volunteers had to brave the same elements for hours as well! Between the Bull Run Run 50-miler and the North Face Endurance Challenge, 25 DCCS volunteers donated their time and top-notch service for the running community. 

At the North Face Endurance Challenge, 13 DCCS volunteers were stationed at Great Falls Park on the Ridge Trail, off Old Dominion Drive. Despite it's so wet that they couldn't even mark the runner's bib but had to punch holes instead, James Dankert, Captain of the aid station, described the day as "the Old Dominion Dance Party." In between refilling water bottles and re-stocking food, they were dancing to the blasting tunes "to keep warm and to help keep up the spirits of the runners who were coming through." The Race's Operation Officer later commented that he could have "slept in the truck the entire time."

For the Bull Run Run 50 mile Race, volunteer duties began well before race day. Around 12 DCCS volunteers helped at the Fountainhead aid station, including a few overachievers who helped marking the course and clearing the trail the day before, and directed traffic at O'dark thirty on race morning. As AS Captain Tom Mcnulty puts it, "despite the dreary conditions, spirits were high and everyone had an awesome time!"

Thank you volunteers!

Holiday Lights Run 2015: Big Success!

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Maybe it's the cold weather; maybe it's the love in the air (it is February after all); maybe it's just nostalgia; whatever the reason, we're reminiscing about the Holiday Lights Run 2015. For those of you who came out, you know first-hand how much fun and what a success it was. For those of you who weren't able to make it, we missed you but hope to see you next year! 

A couple of things we want to call attention to: First of all, we raised thousands of dollars for So Others Might Eat, and we collected tons of toys for children as part of the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program. 

Also, we want to give a special thank you to the Renaissance Hotel for providing the event location, the Fireview Room, the staff in the Presidential Sports Lounge and the weekend stay -- we appreciate your help and enjoyed the hotel very much!

Lastly, what better way to re-live an experience than through photos? Check out our gallery below, or search Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #dccshlr2015. 

The North Face Ambassador Jesse Fuller Shares His Story

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DC Capital Striders runner and The North Face ambassador Jesse Fuller recently received the opportunity to share his story via The North Face blog. 

Fuller writes, "Most runners would begin these kinds of stories with, "I discovered running when...". In my case, running discovered me." 

Check out the full story here for your daily dose of inspiration and to learn a little more about your fellow DCCS runnner!: http://neverstopexploring.com/explore/never-stop/never-stop-moving/



5K4Refugees International Virtual 5K

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On Thursday evening, December 10th, DCCS partnered with H Street Runners for a 5K4Refugees International Virtual 5K - an innovative and collaborative initiative to raise funds for CARE International's ongoing work to aid Syrian refugees. Runners from around the globe, in dozens of major cities (and every place in between), have already run hundreds of 5Ks and raised thousands of dollars to benefit CARE's efforts to help ameliorate the Syrian refugee crisis. Check out our photos below from the event! (Click on the photo to see the next one.)

 

DCCS Volunteers at Army Ten-Miler

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One of the best parts of being a part of the DC Capital Striders is the opportunity to volunteer at events all around the DC, Maryland and Virginia local communities. On Sunday, October 11, DCCS came out to support runners at one of DC's biggest races: The Army Ten-Miler (ATM).

Every year, the Army Ten-Miler is put on by the Military District of Washington (MDW), which conducts operations that prevent and respond to threats aimed at the National Capital Region. 

DCCS was in good company, as more than 600 Soldiers from 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) volunteer at race weekend. Whether you would like to run the ATM or volunteer with DCCS, check back next October, when the ATM will be in its 32nd year. All race proceeds continue to benefit Soldier MWR programs. 

See more of the ATM's history/highlights here.